Improvement in military equipments



PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. PENROSE, OF FORT LYON, COLORADO TERRITORY.

l IMPROVEMENT IN MILITARY EQUIPMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,400, datedSeptember 26, 1871.

To all whom it may concern: l.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PENRosE, of Fort Lyon, in the county ofBent, in the Territory of Colorado, have invented certain Improvementsin Soldiers Equipments;` and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the supporting apparatus, andFigs. 2, 3,4, and 5 the adjustable connecting-straps adapted to acanteen, haversack, knapsack, and cartridge-box or pouch, respectively.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawing indicatecorresponding parts.

This invention relates to the means employed for supporting a soldierscanteen, haversack, knapsack, cartridge-pouch, blanket, overcoat, andotherequipments, and has for its object to relieve the soldier of thepressure across his chest, in the arm-pits, and around the abdomen, andto distribute the necessary weights more equably and in such a way as tointerfere the least with the full and free exercise of the functions ofthe body. To this end it consists in the .combination of the supportingapparatus, represented in Fig. l, with the adjustable connectingstrapsor slings for the various equipments represented in Figs. 2,13, 4, and5, as I will now proceed to describe.

The supporting apparatus consists of a waistbelt, G, and a bifurcatedyoke, A B B D, the two front ends of which extend down through loops cc', attached to the waist-belt, and thence back upward behind the frontpart ofthe strap a sufcient distance to enable them to adjust the belthigher or lower by means of hooks b b. The yoke extends down behind incurved lines to the middle of the wearers back, where the two partsunite at D and support a ring, E, which is connected to a loop, o2, bymeans of a strap, F. The loops c c1 c2 are attached to the waist-belt bymeans of straps G, the rear strap and one of the front ones beingmovable and the other stationary. Each shoulder-strap or brace B B' isprovided with a half-ring or button, e e. The slings by which thecanteen, haversack, 85o., are connected to the supporting apparatusconsist of leather straps L, provided with 'spring-hooks d d andadjusting-buckles ff, as fully shown in the several iigures, numbered 2,3, 4, and 5.

VIn applying the supporting apparatus unclasp the waist-belt plate,place the yoke upon the shoulders by passing the left arm through theleft brace B; then the right arm through the brace B; take care that theyoke A rests well upon the neck; hook the waist-belt plate; slide themovable loop c1 equidistant with the other from the belt-plate; slidethe loop c2 to the center of the back, and adjust the length of theshoulder-braces B B by the hooks b b.

ln putting on the canteen K and clothes-haversack J attach one of thehooks d to the ring E; then bring the other end to the front and attachits hook d to the half-ring e on the shoulderbrace B, and adjust thelength of the straps L by the buckles f to suit the person.

Inputtin g on the cartridge-pouch H and rationhaversack I connect one ofthe hooks d toring E 5 bringthe other end to the front, and connect thehook d to the half-ring e on the shoulder brace B.

The application of the improved devices to other articles of a soldiersequipment will be understood without further description.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The adjustable bifurcated yoke, combinedwith a waist-belt to support thenecessary equipments from the breast and back of the wearer in themanner described, each equipment bein g attached by a strap, L, withsuitable connections from the front and rear of said yoke, for thepurpose specified.

This specification signed by me this 19th day of January, 1871.

Y WILLIAM H. PENROSE.

